MEZA, AZ (KNXV/CNN) - An Arizona family says their 84-year-old grandmother was left bloodied and bruised after an incident with police.
But officers say they were just trying to keep her out of harm's way.
Virginia, the alleged victim who did not want her last name published, said the ordeal left her feeling traumatized, hurt and sad.
"I've talked to police out in front of my house for 30 years but there was never anybody who has behaved like this," she said.
Mesa police were called to Virginia's home to check on her grandson. Virginia says it was a simple welfare check.
Police said the call was for a suicidal person with a gun. When officers arrived, that person they went to check on did cooperate.
But while police sorted it out, Virginia went out front and that's when she says her conversation with an officer ended with her injury.
"One of the police officers grabbed my wrist real hard and I just, I didn't know anybody could hold that hard," Virginia explained. "It hurt so bad and I said 'Oh, what are you doing? What are you doing?' and the next thing I was doing was waking up on the asphalt next to the police car."
In a statement, Mesa police admit to using force on Virginia but say it happened because she tried to go back inside and the officer was grabbing her to protect her.
Her family is calling for major accountability.
“This shouldn't happen. There should never be any reason for an 84-year-old grandmother, who just had her fourth stroke in December, to be put on the ground," Virginia’s granddaughter Ashlee Hahn said.
"What's he doing to other people that he misunderstands the situation?"
Police are conducting an internal investigation into the incident. They say Virginia's grandson was found with a bb gun.
Virginia received a ticket for reportedly obstructing justice.
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